Is there anyone in the Clackamas, Oregon area or nearby who uses the Mittleider Method for gardening? I would love to see a greenhouse garden with this method before I attempt it myself. cj

Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:29 pm

tmgibs

Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:51 pmPosts: 5

Re: Mittleider Method

I had a Mittleider garden but I tore it all out. The people operating that group are some dishonest business people whose main priority is to sell soil amendments at about 100 x markup of what they actually cost. They have a multi-level marketing scheme if you want to participate. I would get Steve Solomon and Eliot Coleman's books from the library and see how they apply to your situation. Raised beds, no boxes work best here in the PNW.

Tom

Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:57 pm

cj2619

Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:13 pmPosts: 6

Re: Mittleider Method

Tom....what are the dishonest practices you are referring to? And, how are they related to multi-level marketing? I've seen some Youtube illustrations as to 'how to' make the garden beds, and also I've heard them say what types of material one should get for the beds. However, one can get these from many other sources, not from them alone. So, please be more specific so that I can be on the alert. Thanks. ~ cj

Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:24 pm

tmgibs

Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:51 pmPosts: 5

Re: Mittleider Method

Joseph Mittleider was a very respected soil scientist but the people leading the charge using his name are selling this approach of slamming tons of chemical fertilizers at every type of soil. They sell a micronutrient mix. They also have installed a lot of really nice gardens which makes it difficult to separate the good from the bad. One of the features of most of their gardens is vertical growing. That doesn't need a box to do it but raised beds in the PNW help a LOT as does being able to cover areas at times to keep them warmer and drier. The most constant feature of Mittleider gardens is the princely sum of money spent installing the t-posts and the like but most of that stuff has a very short life here in the big wet unless it is metal or poisoned. For the kind of money that people put into the Mittleider gardens here I would rather see haygrove tunnels or hoop houses.

Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:19 pm

cj2619

Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:13 pmPosts: 6

Re: Mittleider Method

Thank you, Tom, for your insight. Do you have anyone, in the Clackamas area, that you'd point me to in order to see their garden(s)? We have been thinking about purchasing a greenhouse, the hoop kind, about 20x20. I think here in the PNW one really needs a greenhouse in order to get any kind of success..would you agree?

Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:36 pm

tmgibs

Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:51 pmPosts: 5

Re: Mittleider Method

I am not sure what you are looking for. If you want to scale up to the size where you have a greenhouse then I would visit the farmer's markets and CSAs and ask to visit to see their operations.

Tom

Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:14 am

cj2619

Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:13 pmPosts: 6

Re: Mittleider Method

What we're hoping to do, is raise food in better gardening conditions. That includes better soil, earlier growing and longer growing season...in a nut-shell, better conditions all the way around for the garden and 'me' the one doing the work. And, to do this without having it cost 'an arm and a leg'.

Greenhouse gardening, 'seems' to be the better way??? Not sure who to purchase a greehouse from, don't want it to blow away either. That's why I'm assuming the hoop approach is better? But where would the best price be?

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